Hydroponic system questions

I am in the process of building a new indoor set up and I have always used soil. I have had awesome results with soil. However, some friends of mine use a Hydro set up and I really like it. SO I was seriously considering getting a system and trying it out.

I dont have alot of cash to throw into something I may not like, but i do have a couple hundred.

I found these two on amazon, and Was wondering if any of you guys have used them, or if they would be would be suitable for a first time dwc hydro set up.

http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Hydroponic-Bubbler-PowerGrow-Systems/dp/B00J148VJS/ref=pd_sbs_86_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1WB2CT2JKBSVYRD7STDD


http://www.amazon.com/10-Pot-Hydroponic-VersaGrow-System/dp/B00GFBKLZW/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1435119110&sr=8-20&keywords=hydroponics+growing+system+complete

The first link looks pretty good. Why not try just one plant on hydro to see how it goes first? INstead of buying a 10 plant system.

Ive heard of someone trying hydro and gave up as all his plants died. Im testing my first hydro grow just now and its growing 3 times as fast as soil in my opinion, its still very small at the moment.

Make sure you do all your research and know how to start of seedlings for hydro too.

hempy bucket. try hydro for probably less than $20. 5 gal bucket, medium, plant, hydro nutes.

Dude thank so much for the idea. I had never heard of such before. This looks super easy to do. I'm going to research hempy buckets a bit. Still need to make sure I know how to grow from seeds like this.

/facepalm. There is a "how to DIY" sticky thread =P

jmcdaniel0 said:

Dude thank so much for the idea. I had never heard of such before. This looks super easy to do. I'm going to research hempy buckets a bit. Still need to make sure I know how to grow from seeds like this.

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i switched from dwc to rdwc and then to hempys. i have an auto watering system: fill up the res once a week and don't have to touch anything. drain to waste so my EC and pH are constant. super easy.

dwc has awesome growth but you need to keep an eye on it. i can go away for a week and not worry. not many dwc growers can say that.

rkymtnman said:

i switched from dwc to rdwc and then to hempys. i have an auto watering system: fill up the res once a week and don't have to touch anything. drain to waste so my EC and pH are constant. super easy.

dwc has awesome growth but you need to keep an eye on it. i can go away for a week and not worry. not many dwc growers can say that.

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Trueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

So I have been reading up on this, and i just want to make sure i am correct.

I can use a 3-5 gal bucket, I can use pure perlite and nutes. and simply keep them watered and fed, like i normally would? If so that is a super easy way and much more cost effective than Fox Farm or Roots Organic. There are no shops near me that carry that kind of stuff, so I have to order it online, and it is way way expensive. Perlite however, I can get cheap.

you did see about the 7/16" hole 2 inches up from bottom? can't overwater and it gives a built in res.

i use a 5 gal black bucket, growstones for my media (chunky perlite is also good), dyna gro foliage pro for my nutes and RO water. most people just hand water hempys. pH around 5.8 and EC around 0.8

I love it. Ill start collecting the required supplies. I have some Auto Trans Siberian seeds laying around i got from Auto Seeds. Ill get them to germinating and get a few of these set up in my grow tent. I am very glad I asked questions. Hopefully Ill have good luck with this and I can ditch soil all together. I will save a ton long term. I can just rinse and reuse the perlite correct?

jmcdaniel0 said:

I love it. Ill start collecting the required supplies. I have some Auto Trans Siberian seeds laying around i got from Auto Seeds. Ill get them to germinating and get a few of these set up in my grow tent. I am very glad I asked questions. Hopefully Ill have good luck with this and I can ditch soil all together. I will save a ton long term. I can just rinse and reuse the perlite correct?

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yep, that's why the bigger perlite is better. same for my growstones. rinse, get all the little root material off, rinse again and re-use.

check out the world of hempy thread in drain to waste for more info. you basically nailed it though with what is involved. good luck!

Silica rocks arent bad either. Hydroton, perlite, rockwool, vermiculite, theres an endless list of mediums that're usable.

Awesome. Ordered the buckets and perlite today.

I typically use Fox farm nutes. They aren't cheap

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HY2IXQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Anyone have experience with these.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024NDVRA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3SN41ZWNHBBFH

I can save some green, and hopefully grow some at the same time.

Also, I typically germinate his g the tried an true paper towel method. Then I place them In a soil plug in something like this.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004RA48/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I can just pop that plug in the center of my bucket correct?

you might consider root riot or similar plug. a mix of rubber and peat. yes, plug in center of bucket.

You can get some pretty amazing stuff from hempy buckets. I run 100% perlite 1 gal buckets. Def recommend trying

If dwc, I'd suggest spending the extra $ on enough air pumps for every bucket. The reason for this is many grower start with a chain of buckets and single air pump, only to discover that the huge growth causes the plants to tie into each other and over grow the grow space. if you isolate each bucket with it's own air pump, you can move it wherever you want. it's really the added oxygen in dwc that makes grows incredible, but you need to know a thing or two; watch the ppm and pH pretty closely. Use a fert that is more for hydro. I've had good results with dyangro. there are others to choose from. go easy at first, and try to find instructions to follow. sometimes these are on the back of the container.

jmcdaniel0 said:

Awesome. Ordered the buckets and perlite today.

I typically use Fox farm nutes. They aren't cheap

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HY2IXQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Anyone have experience with these.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024NDVRA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3SN41ZWNHBBFH

I can save some green, and hopefully grow some at the same time.

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I have heard of people using flora products with good luck but I will admit that Dynagrow makes some of the most concentrated stuff on the market. I know their silica is the best out there =P as far as how much is actually in it.

polishpollack said:

you might consider root riot or similar plug. a mix of rubber and peat. yes, plug in center of bucket.

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I picked up a 50 ct bag of their plugs. I use this type of seed starter, should work well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006VK68E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Vumar said:

I have heard of people using flora products with good luck but I will admit that Dynagrow makes some of the most concentrated stuff on the market. I know their silica is the best out there =P as far as how much is actually in it.

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I can get the dynamic grow foliage pro 32 ounce for 18 bucks at the local wally world .